Brick Jointers: Purpose, Patterns, & Practical Applications
January 2026

After leads have been built and bricks have been laid, it’s crucial to tool the joints before the mortar sets. The tool of choice for this task is a brick jointer, but it can be tricky to decide which one to use. This guide will walk through the purpose o

Laying It Straight: Line-Holding Accessories for Masons Who Demand Precision
January 2026

When it comes to laying brick, block, or stone, nothing replaces a good line. A tight, true mason’s line is the backbone of straight courses and clean elevations, and the hardware holding that line is every bit as critical. Bon Tool’s lineup of Line & Lin

Holding History Together: The Art of Lateral Restraint in Masonry Restoration
January 2026

The first thing you notice about an old masonry building isn’t always its beauty. Sometimes it’s the bow in a wall or the way time and the elements have tugged at the mortar joints. Every century-old structure carries its story in cracks, tilts, bows, and

Masonry Tools: 17,000 Years in the Making (and Still Counting)
October 2025

If you have ever looked into a mason’s toolbox and thought, “Haven’t I seen this before?” you are not wrong. Masonry has been shaping civilizations for more than 17,000 years, and while the structures have changed, the pace of tool innovation has been abo

12 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the History of Masonry
September 2025

You sat through hours of apprentice school, and probably spent more time on a wall than you’d like to admit. While laying foundations or finishing that masonry basement, did you ever consider how the masonry trade developed? What about the tools you use e

Are Concrete Masonry Units a Good Material Selection for a Storm Shelter?
September 2025

The answer to this question is: “Absolutely!” Let’s get into it. Controlling Documents (A bit of history) The first edition of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) P-361, released in 2000, set forth comprehensive design and construction criteria f

Speak Up for CMU: The Future of Masonry Inside Today’s Schools
September 2025

High-Performance Masonry Units: Elevating Structural Integrity and Aesthetics
September 2025

Manufactured concrete masonry units have been present in the construction marketplace for over 120 years. They are ubiquitous and are made in virtually every country on earth. The development of high-performance masonry units currently available across th

Thermal Mass in Masonry
September 2025

A building’s exterior design and material selection impact all aspects of the final product, from indoor air quality to overall energy efficiency. When design-build teams aim to achieve a more energy-efficient building, material selection is the most cruc

STABILA Introduces Innovative New Products for Fall Launch
September 2025

STABILA, a trusted name synonymous with precision, durability, and quality, is excited to announce the launch of several innovative products this fall. The lineup features the compact and versatile LAX320G laser level and the advanced LD530 Laser Distance

How It’s Made: Clay Brick
August 2025

Going back to around 7000 B.C., when the first bricks were made from a combination of mud and straw (highlighted because mud and straw are not part of the defined parameters of masonry) and then dried in the desert sun, the general process of how brick is

Crafting Tradition: The Art of Brickwork and Restoration In England
June 2025

My name is Jack Phillips, and I was born and raised in London. I have since moved to Yorkshire, where I live with my family. However, the majority of my work predominantly remains in London.

The Cost of a Job: An Ever-Moving Target
May 2025

I look at a well-functioning estimating department and think, as I imagine most do, of the age-old question: "What came first – the chicken or the egg?" How do you know how much it costs to do a job before you do it? The truth is that pricing a job is an

A Greener Future Through Masonry
April 2025

When it comes to building a more sustainable future, the construction and building materials sector has a lot of room for growth. According to the most recent data, construction and building-related emissions are responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emis

Central Avenue Elementary School – A Modern Take on Historical American Masonry
March 2025

Central Avenue Elementary School is a project that the team here at Warfield Masonry completed in 2021. Located in Midland, Washington, the project involved the demolition and replacement of the original Central Avenue School built in 1949. The original e

New Technology in Masonry Classrooms
March 2025

The world of masonry is evolving with the implementation of new technologies. These advancements are reshaping how this craft is taught, learned, and executed by merging traditional techniques with modern innovation to develop skilled masons prepared to m